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Top 5 at 5: Hundreds of Journalists Killed and Held Hostage in 2025

Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism

10-Dec-25 17:00

Top 5 at 5: Hundreds of Journalists Killed and Held Hostage in 2025

Reporters Without Borders has released its latest annual round-up, revealing another grim year for media freedom: 67 journalists killed, nearly half in Gaza, hundreds detained, and scores missing or held hostage. We speak to Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director of the Centre for Independent Journalism, to unpack the findings and what they mean for press freedom in our region. (Starts at 22:36)

• Hundreds of pharmacists left in job limbo: Over 700 government pharmacists face losing their jobs next year after being shifted into the same pool as brand-new applicants, despite years of service. We hear from Amrahi Buang, President of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society on what this reveals about the wider contract system crisis. (Starts at 18:20)

• Police turn away "underdressed" accident victim: A woman involved in a traffic accident was denied the right to file a police report due to her skirt length, sparking public outrage. We explore what this incident says about access to justice and outdated SOPs. (Starts at 13:34)

• Malaysia among world's top importers of used textiles: Malaysia now ranks fourth globally in used and waste textile imports, with much of it ending up in landfills due to poor quality. Melissa Tan, country coordinator of Fashion Revolution Malaysia weighs in on how consumers can help curb the growing textile waste problem. (Starts at 6:41)

• KL–JB ETS set to launch this Friday: A new ETS route will cut KL–JB travel time nearly in half, marking a major boost for domestic travel and future links to Singapore. We look at what commuters can expect as the route opens this weekend. (Starts at 0:23)

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sneha Harikannan, Sudais Ferhard, Susan Tam, Lim Sue Ann, Sharaad Kuttan, Lee Chwi Lynn

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan, Susan Tam


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Categories:  internationalLaw/Activismcontroversiesenvironment

Tags:  jb sentralused clothing importstextile wastedress code controversygovernment pharmacistsgovernment contract staffetspublic transportkl sentralhealth ministrypress freedom





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